😐A single person spends $1,044 per month in Grand Bois vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,720 per month in Grand Bois vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,397 per month in Grand Bois vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Grand Bois costs about 22% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Grand Bois and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Grand Bois22% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.57MUR 310
$2.04฿68.4
222.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.46MUR 2,099
$18.71฿626
137.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.28MUR 344
$7.86฿263
-7.38%
Cappuccino
$2.59MUR 122
$2.03฿67.9
27.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03MUR 48.70
$0.80฿26.71
28.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56MUR 26.41
$0.35฿11.71
60.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22MUR 105
$2.14฿71.7
3.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23MUR 153
$3.67฿123
-11.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64MUR 77.3
$1.73฿57.8
-5.20%
White Bread(500g)
$0.70MUR 33.23
$1.57฿52.5
-55.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32MUR 62.5
$1.20฿40.10
10.00%
Eggs
$2.26MUR 107
$1.97฿66.0
14.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.66MUR 551
$16.23฿543
-28.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.01MUR 284
$3.06฿102
96.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.54MUR 592
$10.80฿361
16.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.04MUR 96.4
$2.77฿92.6
-26.35%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MUR 95.1
$1.17฿39.05
71.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50MUR 70.7
$1.71฿57.1
-12.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75MUR 130
$1.59฿53.3
72.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04MUR 48.89
$1.39฿46.63
-25.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01MUR 47.84
$1.16฿38.67
-12.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85MUR 40.01
$0.66฿22.11
28.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82MUR 38.66
$0.52฿17.35
57.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.67MUR 315
$4.65฿155
43.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.42MUR 398
$17.78฿595
-52.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MUR 81.6
$1.79฿59.8
-3.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24MUR 106
$3.34฿112
-32.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00MUR 47.13
$0.91฿30.35
9.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.64฿624
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29MUR 203
$1.41฿47.17
204.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.66MUR 126
$1.34฿44.82
98.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.75MUR 932
$8.11฿271
143.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40MUR 65.9
$1.23฿41.27
13.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4KMUR 1.7M
$21.4K฿717.0K
65.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KMUR 1.4M
$21.8K฿730.0K
33.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.4MUR 2,381
$71.3฿2,386
-29.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.29MUR 864
$14.01฿469
30.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.01MUR 1,606
$17.93฿600
89.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.58MUR 1,775
$40.82฿1,365
-7.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.22MUR 294
$5.72฿191
8.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$156MUR 7,349
$308฿10.3K
-49.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,915MUR 184.8K
$14.7K฿491.0K
-73.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.7MUR 4,048
$55.8฿1,865
53.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.1MUR 3,780
$26.04฿871
207.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130MUR 6,127
$84.8฿2,837
53.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.5MUR 4,508
$71.0฿2,375
34.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$522MUR 24.7K
$423฿14.2K
23.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$358MUR 16.9K
$242฿8,110
47.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$966MUR 45.6K
$797฿26.7K
21.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730MUR 34.5K
$507฿17.0K
44.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,918฿64.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,464฿49.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grand Bois
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
5
33.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Grand Bois: July 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $522 in Grand Bois versus $423 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Grand Bois versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $231 in Grand Bois vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Grand Bois wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Grand Bois vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Grand Bois or Chiang Mai?
Grand Bois costs about 22% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Grand Bois and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,566 per month in Grand Bois and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Grand Bois or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Grand Bois and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Grand Bois and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Grand Bois or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Grand Bois – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Grand Bois or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Grand Bois at $1,044. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Grand Bois it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Grand Bois or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,044 in Grand Bois. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Grand Bois compared to Chiang Mai?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Grand Bois or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Grand Bois makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Grand Bois vs other spots: cost of living compared